admire from afar

Meaning

This phrase means to look at, appreciate, or have romantic feelings for someone (or respect someone's work) from a distance, without them knowing or without directly interacting with them. It often carries a slightly romantic, shy, or respectful tone, indicating that the admirer keeps their distance.

Examples

• She was too shy to talk to him, so she preferred to admire him from afar.

  She was too shy to talk to him, so she preferred to admire him from afar.

• For months, he admired her from afar before finally gathering the courage to introduce himself.

  For months, he admired her from afar before finally gathering the courage to introduce himself.

• Many young artists admire successful painters from afar, hoping to match their skill one day.

  Many young artists admire successful painters from afar, hoping to match their skill one day.

• I don't know the CEO personally; I just admire her leadership skills from afar.

  I don't know the CEO personally; I just admire her leadership skills from afar.

• Instead of joining the conversation, he sat at the edge of the room and admired her from afar.

  Instead of joining the conversation, he sat at the edge of the room and admired her from afar.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I admire her from far.

  ✓ I admire her from afar.

  'Afar' is a specific adverb meaning 'at, to, or from a great distance.' The correct idiom is always 'from afar', not 'from far'.

• ✗ She admires from afar him.

  ✓ She admires him from afar.

  The direct object ('him') must come immediately after the transitive verb 'admire', before the adverbial phrase 'from afar'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• They never spoke to the famous author, choosing instead to ___.

  💡 appreciate or respect someone from a distance

  Show answer

  admire from afar

• If you like her, you should talk to her instead of choosing to ___.

  💡 watch and appreciate without making direct contact

  Show answer

  admire from afar